cli-columns
Columnated unicode and ansi-safe text lists for CLI output.
Pricing
Free tier
Flat rate
Adoption
↘CoolingLicense
Open Source
Data freshness
Verified · Jul 12, 2026Overview
What is cli-columns?
cli-columns is a tool that allows developers to format text into columnated lists, ensuring proper alignment and handling of Unicode and ANSI characters. It's particularly useful for creating readable and organized command-line outputs.
Key differentiator
“cli-columns stands out by providing a simple yet powerful way to format text into columns for CLI applications, ensuring proper handling of Unicode and ANSI characters.”
Capability profile
Capability Radar
Honest assessment
Strengths & Weaknesses
↑ Strengths
↓ Weaknesses
The tool lacks fine-grained control over column width and alignment beyond basic settings.
Examples in the documentation are limited to simple use cases, making it difficult to understand how to handle more complex text formatting needs.
Processing and rendering large amounts of data can be slow, leading to delays in command-line output generation.
Fit analysis
Who is it for?
✓ Best for
Developers who need to format text output for CLI applications with proper alignment and Unicode support.
Projects requiring clear, organized command-line reporting.
✕ Not a fit for
Applications that require real-time data processing or streaming
Complex graphical user interfaces
Cost structure
Pricing
Free Tier
Available
Open source — free to use
Starts at
$0
Model
Flat rate
Enterprise
None
Performance benchmarks
How Fast Is It?
Ecosystem
Relationships
Integrations
Next step
Get Started with cli-columns
Step-by-step setup guide with code examples and common gotchas.